Ice grid for refrigerators



Oct 25, 1933.

J. B. HERDLEIN ICE GRID FOR REFRIGERATORS Filed Nov. 19, 1955 2Shgets-Sheet l Oct. 25, 1938. HERDLEM 2,134,085

' ICE GRID'FOR REFRIGERATORS Filed Nov. 19, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Patented Oct. 25, 1938 UNITED STATES- PATENT OFFICE ICE GRID FORREFRIGERATORS Application November 19, 1935, Serial No. 50,600

19 Claims.

This invention relates to household and commercial ice refrigerators,and the principal object of the invention is to provide a novel ice gridwhich will increase the efficiency of the ice for refrigerationpurposes, the grid exposing only the bottom surface of the ice block tothe circulating air within the refrigerator casing by a uniquearrangement of parallel metal plates disposededge wise to the ice block,which arrangementto side of the ice compartmenmvvith shorter' metal gridplates interposed between the pairs of longer plates, together with aninterlocking member disposed transversely of the grid plates andservingto render the grid rigid, to divert meltage, and to control aircirculation.

A further object is to provide a grid having plates increasing in depthfrom side to center, and provided with recesses at'their centers, thewalls of which serve to divert the drip of ice meltage into aidrip pandisposed below the grid; said recesses also serving to provide anunobstructed passage for air currents in passing downwardly through anaxially disposed slot in the drip pan into the food compartment.

I will explain the invention with reference'to the accompanying drawingswhich illustrate one,

practical embodiment thereof to enable others familiar with the art toadoptand use the same;

and. will summarize in the claims the novel features of construction,and novel combinations of with my novel ice grid, the section beingtaken upon the line l|, Fig. 2. v

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section through the rethe ice grid, the sectionbeing taken on the line 2-2, Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the'refrigerator cabinet and gridtaken on line 3-3,' Fig. 1.

- frigerator cabinet showing the arrangement of;

In the drawings my novel ice grid is illustrated in connection with arefrigerator casing of the one door type having side walls A, top B,bottom C and a back D, and having a single door E at the front whichwhen opened gives access to the ice compartment above the grid, andlikewise access to the food compartment disposed below the grid. Howevermy grid may be used in connection with other types of ice refrigeratorshaving two or more doors, also with refrigerators having certain doorsinstalled for icing. purposes only.

The ice compartment, in' the upper portion of the casing, is shown asprovided at the sides A-A and back D with a rustless' lining l, thelower ends of which at the sides A'-A of the cabinet are deflectedinwardly as at la to form a support or bracket for the ice grid,hereinafter described. While the bracket portions la are shown integralwith the lining l the same may if desired be formed separately therefromand secured to the Walls;A-A in any desired man.- ner. The lower ends-ofthe'bracket portions la are flanged inwardly as at lb towards the centerof the casing and then bent reversely as at 1c to clamp therebetween theinner ends of' plates 1d extendingfrom the sidewalls A-Axof: the

casing, the-plates (d not only serving to stiffen the shelf supporting"flanges lb of the bracket portions 1a and to maintain same properlyspaced from the side walls of the casing, but also.serv ing todeflecttthe upwardly rising warmer air currents at the sides A-A of thecasing below the grid inwardly towards and along the gridplates, asshown by the arrows in Fig. 1. The ice grid-comprises a series ofparallel relatively long plates 4' with shorter plates 3 interposedbetween theplatesl as shown in Fig. 2, the plates 3 and 4being disposed'edgewiseto' the bottomof 'a blockof ice, and rigidly connected togetherby means of the-interlocking barl, tie plates 5, and'deflector' plateZ'as hereinafter described. The ends of the longer plates 4 arenotchedto provide shoulders 4a adapted to rest upon the flanges lb ofthe bracketportions'la. In order to connect the plates 4 together; tie

plates 5 extend over the tops of the plates 4 at edge of each plate 4 isa relatively large triangular recess 4b for the purpose of permittingcondensation on the plate 4 to be carried to either side of the recessand fall upon a drip pan 6 below the grid, hereinafter described.

The shorter grid plates 3, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, are only abouthalf the length of the plates 4 and have their ends 3a (Fig. 1) cut on abevel sloping upwardly towards the center of the casing. The plates 3otherwise have the same shape and configuration as the correspondingportions of the plates 4, and are likewise provided with relativelylarge triangular recesses in their lower edges corresponding in size andshape with the recesses 41) in the longer grid plates 4.

Extending across the tops of the assembled plates 3 and 4 at the centerof the grid and disposed at right angles to the plates is an inter-.

locking bar I serving threepurposes; first, to permit the block of iceto initially slide over the ice grid in placing the block in the'icecompartment; second, to resist any tendency of the ice block to shiftlaterally within the ice compartment in event the grid is not level; andthird, to

tendto split the ice block into two parts which" will separate and slidelaterally away from the deflector plate 2 hereinafter described. Theinterlocking bar I may be secured to the-plates 3 and 4 in any desiredmanner preferably by notching the lower edge of the same to receive theupper edges of the plates 3 and 4 which may then be welded thereto.Obviously the upper edges of the plates 3 and 4 could be notched insteadof bar I, if desired.

The deflector plate 2 extends transversely of w the grid and servesthree purposes; first, to divert the meltage water to either side of theflue opening 6d; second, to serve as the upper part of the air flue; andthird, to support and locate the shorter plates 3 of the grid; and asthe deflector plate is secured to all of the plates 3 and 4 a verysubstantial construction is provided. The de:

'flector plate 2 is slightly angular in cross-section (Fig. 1) withthe'apex of the angle disposed in a vertical plane passing throughthecenter of each of the plates 3 and 4, and the. side edges of thedeflector 2 terminate at points substantially above the widest portionsof the recesses 4b in thelower edges of the plates 3 and 4. Preferablythe deflector plateZ passes through correspondingly shaped openings orslots in the assembled plates 3 and 4 and is secured thereto by welding;and if desired the deflector :2 may be secured by welding to theinterlocking bar I.

height of the ice grid, the plate having its upper edge flangedobliquely downwardly as at 9:; to wards the ice grid to assist inmaintaining the block of ice centered on the grid. The. lower end of theplate 9 is flanged inwardly as at 9b. Below the lower edge of theflanged portion 9a is a plate 90 which forms a continuation of theflange 9a and slopes downwardly and rearward7 ly, and has its loweredgeflanged downwardly as.

the lower half of the air flue and also as the drip pan.. The lower pan6b merely serves to protect the insulation 60 and to present a cleanmetal surface at the top of the food compartment. The drip pan 6 isspaced away from the side walls A-A of the refrigerator casing and isprovided with a slot 6d at its center which slot extends the full lengthof the grid; and has a flange 6e around its edges retaining the meltagewater. To assist the flow of air along the plates 3 and 4 and also toassist in carrying off drainage water the sections of the drip pan atopposite sides of slot 6d slope downwardly towards the center of thecasing. The front end of the drip pan 6 is supported upon'the flange 9bof the center rail 9, while the rear end is supported by angle clipssecured to the rear wall D of the refrigerator casing, the drip pan 6sloping generally downwardly toward the rear of the casing shown in Fig.3) so that the meltage water will in Fig. 1, the warmer air passingupwardly along the side walls AA of the food compartment, and inwardlytowards the center of the casing in the air flue formed between thebottom of the block of ice and the drip pan 6, the air then passingalong the grid plates 3 and 4, the major parts of the surfaces of whichplates are exposed to the Warm air. The chilled air is then passeddownwardly through the slot Ed in the drippan and is thus returned tothe food compartment at its center.

The recesses 41) in plates 3 and 4 at their centers permit anycondensation collecting on said plates tp be carried to either side ofthe 'refine the block of ice to the space directly over the At the rearend of the grid is a plate 43: (Fig. 3), 3

grid inasmuch as the ice chamber itself is somawhat larger than theblocks of ice. Obviously these inclined surfaces will tend to force theice block directly over the grid, as will also the downwardly andrearwardly plates 9a, of the 7 center rail 9 which form continuations,of the bracket portions la.

The ice grid is illustrated herein in connection with a so-called onedoor refrigerator, although 1 it is obviously applicable for use inrefrigerators of two or more doors, and also to refrigerators havingcertain doors installed for icing purposes only.

I claim: g V ,1. An ice grid for refrigerators comprising a plurality ofparallel vertically disposed grid plates adapted to be disposed'edgewiseto a block of ice supported thereon; intermediate grid plates of shorterlength substantially conforming in size and shape with the correspondingportions of the first mentioned plates; and .a horizontally'disf posedplate on thetransverse axis of the grid connected with all the gridplates intermediate their upper and lower edges, and extending atwardstheir-centers and having recesses in their loweredge s below and ofsubstantially the same width as the horizontal plate.

3. In combination with a grid as set forth in claim 1, a bar disposedaxially of the grid and extending above the upper edges of the gridplates, said bar being connected with the plates and arranged to bedisposed edgewise to the block of ice.

4. An ice grid for refrigerators comprising a plurality of parallelvertically disposed grid plates arranged to be disposed edgewise to ablock of ice supported thereon; said plates increasing in depth fromtheir ends towards their centers and having in their central lower edgeportions V- shaped recesses defining spaced depending drainage points;and means for connecting the plates together. i

5. An ice grid for refrigerators comprising a plurality of parallelvertically disposed grid plates adapted to be disposed edgewise to ablock of ice supported thereon; intermediate grid plates of shorterlength substantially conforming in size and shape with the correspondingportions of the first mentioned plates; said grid plates increasing indepth from their ends towards their centers; and means for connectingthe plates together.

6. A refrigerator, comprising a casing having an ice compartment and afood compartment; an ice supporting grid between the compartmentsincluding a series of vertical substantially parallel grid platesdisposed for edgewise engagement with ice at the bottom of the icecompartment and extending from side to side thereof; means forsupporting the grid plates; means for directing upwardly rising aircurrents at the sides of the food compartment inwardly along the gridplates below the ice block towards the transverse axis of the grid; adrip pan below the grid arranged to form with the bottom of the iceblock an air fiue and having a slot underlying the central part of thegrid for the passage therethrough of cold air into the food compartment;and means for diverting the drippings of ice meltage above the slot intothe drip pan.

'7. In a refrigerator as set forth in claim 6, each of the grid platesincreasing in depth from end to center, and having a recess at thecenter of its lower edge spanning the slot for diverting the drippingsof ice meltage into the drip pan.

8. In a refrigerator as set forth in claim 6, said grid supporting meanshaving portions adapted to center a block of ice upon the grid.

9. In a refrigerator as set forth in claim 6, means on the grid forsupporting a block of ice to initially slide thereover in filling theice compartment.

10. In a refrigerator as set forth in claim 6, a center rail extendingfrom side to side of the casing across the front end thereof; said railhaving a portion adapted to center .a block of ice upon the grid.

11. A refrigerator comprising a casing having an ice compartment and afood compartment; an ice supporting grid between the compartmentsincluding a series of parallel grid plates disposed for edgewiseengagement with ice at the bottom i'th 9 cq nar enten e tendi f m s toside thereof; intermediate grid plates of shorter length interposedbetween the first men tioned plates; means at the sides of the casingfor supporting the first mentioned grid plates and for directing theupwardly-; rising air currents at the sides of the food compartmentinwardlyalong the grid plates below the ice block towards the axis of,the grid; a drip pan below the grid arranged to form with the bottom ofthe ice block an air flue having an axially disposed slot for thepassage therethrough of cold air into the food compartment; and adeflector-plate of greater width than the slot connected with all thegrid plates above the slot, and diverting the drippings of ice meltageabove the slot into the drip pan.

12. In a refrigfierator as set forth in claim 11, each of the gridplates increasing in depth from end to center, and having a recess atthe center of its lower edge spanning the slot for diverting thedrippings of ice meltage into the drip pan.

13. In a refrigerator as set forth in claim 11, said grid supportingmeans having inwardly and downwardly inclined portions adapted toconfine a block of ice to the space directly over the grid.

14. In a refrigerator as set forth in claim 11, means on the gridextending thereabove for permitting a block of ice to initially slidethereover in filling the ice compartment; said means tending tosubsequently split the block above the slot.

15. In a refrigerator as set forth in claim 11, a center rail extendingfrom side to side of the casing across the front end thereof, said railhaving an inwardly and downwardly inclined portion adapted to confinethe block of ice to the space directly over the grid; and said railsupporting the front end of the drip pan.

16. A refrigerator comprising a casing having an ice compartment and afood compartment; an ice grid between the compartment including a seriesof parallel grid plates disposed edgewise to the bottom of the icecompartment and extending from side to side thereof; intermediate gridplates of shorter length interposed between and conforming in shape withthe corresponding portions of the first mentioned plates; means at thesides of the casing for supporting the first mentioned grid plates andfor directing the upwardly rising air currents at the sides of the foodcompartment inwardly-along the grid plates below the top edges of thegrid plates towards the axis of the grid, said supporting means havinginwardly and downwardly inclined portions adapted to confine a block ofice to the space directly over the grid; a drip pan below the gridarranged to form with the bottom of the ice block an air flue having anaxially disposed slot for the passage therethrough of cold air into thefood compartment; and a deflector plate of greater width than the slotconnected with all the grid plates above the slot, and diverting thedrippings of ice meltage above the slot into the drip pan.

17. In a refrigerator as set forth in claim 16, each of the grid platesincreasing in depth from end to center, and having a recess at thecenter of its lower edge spanning the slot for diverting the drippingsof ice meltage into the drip pan, said recesses providing unobstructedpassage for air circulation through the slot.

18. An ice grid for refrigerators comprising a plurality of parallelvertically disposed grid plates arranged to be disposed edgewise to ablock of ice supported thereon; and a horizontally disposed angularplate connected with the grid plates and passing therethro'u'gh abovetheir lower edges at right angles to the plates, said grid platesincreasing in depth from their ends toward their centers definingdownwardly converging lower edgeportions on each grid plateand havingrecesses in their lower edges at their central portions.

19. In combination with a grid as set forth in claim 18, a bar disposedtransversely of the grid at right angles to the plates thereof andextend! ing above the upper edges of the grid plates, said bar beingconnected with theplates and disposed edgewise to a block of ice. l 1

JOHN BOBE HERDLEIN.

